Abstract

Objective:
Based on the role of the superior temporal gyrus (STG) in auditory processing, language comprehension and self-monitoring, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between STG cortical thickness and positive symptom severity in schizophrenia.

Method:
This prospective meta-analysis includes data from 1987 individuals with schizophrenia collected at seventeen centres around the world that contribute to the ENIGMA Schizophrenia Working Group. STG thickness measures were extracted from T1-weighted brain scans using FreeSurfer. The study performed a meta-analysis of effect sizes across sites generated by a model predicting left or right STG thickness with a positive symptom severity score (harmonized SAPS or PANSS-positive scores), while controlling for age, sex and site. Secondary models investigated relationships between antipsychotic medication, duration of illness, overall illness severity, handedness and STG thickness.

Conclusion:
Our findings further underline the important role of the STG in hallmark symptoms in schizophrenia. These findings can assist in advancing insight into symptom-relevant pathophysiological mechanisms in schizophrenia.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors of this manuscript have no financial conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1

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Forest plot of association between…

Figure 1

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Forest plot of association between global SAPS and cortical thickness in the A)…

Figure 1

Forest plot of association between global SAPS and cortical thickness in the A) left and B) right superior temporal gyrus across all 17 study sites, controlling for age, sex and number of sites (if applicable). Fisher’s transformed standardized regression coefficients are denoted by black boxes. Black lines indicate 95% confidence intervals. The combined estimate for all sites is represented by a black diamond with the outer edges of the diamond indicating the confidence interval limits.